Method and apparatus for controlling the flow of data frames through a network switch on a port-by-port basis
US6405258B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/901
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for regulating the flow of data between plural network stations through a network switch. A receive port functions to receive data frames from a first network station, and a transmit port outputs the received data frames to a second network station. A programmable threshold register is provided for storing a threshold value that indicates a saturation level for the internal resources of the transmit port. Control circuitry is used to monitor the internal resources of the transmit port and determine whether or not the threshold value has been reached. If the threshold value has been reached, then the control circuitry will implement a flow control process that causes the first network station to discontinue transmission of data frames to the transmit port until the internal resources of the transmit port fall below the threshold value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.